Scientists find signals in the blood which may help monitor BMD
Scientists, from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, have found biological signals in the blood that might help track how Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) changes over time. These signals are called biomarkers – small changes in the body that are unique to a condition.
The team looked at proteins in the blood. Proteins help our cells do important jobs to keep us healthy. Levels of certain proteins can change in conditions like BMD. By comparing protein levels with how well people were moving over time, the scientists found that 10 proteins seemed to match changes in movement.
These proteins are involved in things like:
- how the body responds to threats (immune response)
- how it structurally supports cells,
- and how it heals after injury.
This gives scientists more insight into what’s happening inside the body as BMD changes. Although it’s still early days and more studies are needed to confirm the findings, these biomarkers could one day help track how BMD is changing in clinical trials and show whether a treatment is working.
The biomarkers could also support better care in everyday life. For example, by helping to identify when someone might benefit from mobility aids, rather than relying only on movement tests. That means people could get the right support at the right time.